EL MUNDO hOy. GESTIÓN DE LA DIVERSIDAD. UN IMPERATIVO ...

INTERNAcionaLIZACIÓN Y CAPITAL HUMANO
3. Adaptation Process
3.1. Background to the adaptation of the expatriate.
Cultural adaptation has been shown by a great number of reports
through the years as the key background factor if an international assignment
is not to fail (Black et al., 1991; Black and Gregersen, 1999;
Cerdin, 1999). This is the reason why the adaptation process is a matter
of great interest to companies that are looking for potential candidates
for expatriation. To understand the adaptation process of the expatriate
is a key factor for a good International Human Resources Management
(Black et al., 1991; Kobrin, 1988).
3.2. Adaptation concept during an international assignment
For a long time the term adaptation during an international assignment
was considered a unidimensional phenomenon (Gullahorn y
Gullahorn, 1962; Oberg, 1960; Torbiorn, 1982). At the end of the 80s,
Black (1988) and Black and Stephens (1989) defined adaptation as the
degree of interaction with local people and/or the participation in the
local activities in the destination country. Moreover, the research identified
different dimensions to the adaptation. The concept of adaptation
is understood as the degree of psychological welfare of a person in relation
with different aspects in a new cultural environment (Black, 1988;
Black and Gregersen, 1990; Black and Stephens, 1989; Mendenhall and
Oddou, 1985; Nicholson, 1984; Oberg, 1960). Under this new multidimensional
approach, put forward by Black y Stephens (1989), on
arrival in the country of destination, the expatriate should adapt to the
job (professional adaptation), to the interactions with the local people
(social adaptation) and to the general environment (general adaptation).
Figure 2 shows a model of adaptation including the adaptation factor
during the assignment.
From the initial adaptation model (Black et al., 1991), different authors
have been adding to the list of factors that are involved in the
expatriate’s cultural adaptation (Arthur and Bennet, 1995; Cerdin, 1999;
Shaffer et al., 1999; Parker and McEvoy, 1993; Selmer, 1998) during the
international assignment. Nevertheless, researchers keep confirming the
dimensions put forward by Black et al. (1991) and therefore it can be
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